Pneumatic cleaning conveyer



Se t. 18, 1934.

H. F. HEBLEY ET AL PNEUMATIC CLEANING CONVEYER Filed June 27, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 \II I.

7 7? J1 flail; Brakes. 3/

p 18, 1934. H. F. HEEL-Ev ET AL 1 973,707

PNEUMATIC CLEANING CONVEYER Filed June 27. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 00.nounce Sept. 18, 1934. H. F. HEBLEY ET! AL 1,973,707

PNEUMATIC CLEANING CONVEYER Filed June 27, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 8? ZF7VEF j EFE Sept. 18, 1934.

H. F. HEBLEY El AL 1,973,707

-PNEUMATIC CLEANING CONVEYER 7 Filed June 27. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lil Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFlE Our invention relates to pneumatic cleaning conveyer apparatus which may be employed in the separation and cleaning of various mate rials but which is designed particularly for cleaning and separating coal from its refuse matter such as slate, stone, shale, etc. usually present in coal as it comes from the mine.

The invention concerns particularly that type of apparatus in which the material is subjected to agitation during transit thereof for separation in accordance with specific gravity, and in which the heavier particles, namely, the refuse matter, is removed at intervals.

An important object of the invention is t provide a conveyer channel structure having a traveling bottom on which the coal or other material to be cleaned and separated is supported and with which it travels thru a fixed path during the course of which the mass is subjected to agitation and the collected refuse matter is discharged therefrom at predetermined intervals, such travel of the material with a moving channel bottom eliminating the harsh treatment to which material such as coal would be subjected while traveling over a fixed, usually rough bottom, in cleaning structures of the prior art.

A further object is to employ pneumatic means for cleaning the coal and separating the refuse matter therefrom, such pneumatic means being preferably in the form of air jet impulses directed upwardly through the traveling bottom and the coal mass thereon whereby the coal itself will be subjected to gentle vertical vibrations and the heavier refuse part will be separated therefrom and will settle on the conveyor bottom from where it may be readily removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide air gates or air valve means opened and closed at a predetermined rate with rapid opening and retarded closure movement in order that the air jets will be projected upwardly through the coal mass under full pressure and the pressure then gradually withdrawn so that after each impulse the coal may settle gently without harsh interimpact which would tend to break it up.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the travel of the conveyer channel bottom with the coal mass thereon through a succession of dumping zones and with dumping sections inthe channel bottom controlled, atv the dumping zones to discharge accumulated and settled refuse matter.

Another object is to provide a onveyor moch anism for receiving material dumped at the dumping zones and conveying it back to the conveyor channel for recirculation in order to assure complete separation of coal and refuse matter without any loss of coal.

A still further object is to provide a conveyor channel havinga bottom built up of sections and adapted to travel with endless conveyer chains With provisions for adapting any of the bottom sections for dumping movement at the dumping zones.

A further object is to provide at each dumpingzone a suitable bridge structure for bridging the dumping gap in the channel bottom and for guidingaccumulated and settled refuse matter into the dumping gap but permitting the coal itself to travel along over the gap.

Still another object is to provide adjustment means for the bridging structure so that it may most efficiently direct the refuse matter into a dumping gap and direct the clean coal for travel across the ga'p'but with the least escape of coal through the gap.

Our invention includes other features of con struction, arrangement and operation besides those specifically referred to above and all these features are incorporated in the structure disclosed on the drawings, in which drawings Figure l is a sectional view on plane I--'.[ of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional View on plane II-II of Fi ur 1;

Figure 3, is an enlarged section on plane III -I;II of Figure 1;.

Figure i is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section at one of the dumping zones showing one position of the dumping conveyor channel bottom section;

Figure 5; is an enlarged plan view of the conveyer channel bottom and the chain belt by which it, is carried;

Figure 6 is" a section on plane VIVI of Figure 3;

Figure. '1 is a section on plane VII-VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 4 but to a reduced scale and showing another position of a dumping section at the dumping zone;

Figure 9 is a section on plane IX-JX of Figure 5: and

Figure 10 is a section on plane X-X of Fig:- ure 4.,

The structure disclosed comprises a supporting base structure 1 on which is mounted housing structure 2, preferably of sheet metal, for .de-

fining various passageways and enclosure spaces for the operating parts of the structure.

Extending longitudinally along the bottom of the housing structure 2 is the air supply passageway 3 connected at one end with a suitable fan or blower (not shown) from which it receives air under suitable pressure. Above the air supply passageway the housing structure 2 provides the chamber or space 4 for the coal conveyer mechanism and on the structure above this space is the canopy 5 connected from various points by branch exhaust ducts 6 leading to a main exhaust duct '1 which may be connected with 'a suitable exhaust fan or device (not shown).

Describing now the main coal conveyer mechanism, front and rear shafts 8 and 9 extend through the side Walls of the housing structure 2 and through the chamber 4. The shaft 8 is journalled in suitable bearing structures 10 at the outside of the housing structure and the shaft 9 is journalled in suitable bearing structures 11. Within the chamber 4 and adjacent to the side walls of the housing structure 2 the shaft 8 has secured thereto the sprocket wheels 12 and 13 and the shaft 9 supports similar sprocket wheels 14 and 15 in horizontal alignment with the sprocket Wheels; 12 and 13. The aligned sprocket wheels 12 and 14 are engaged by and support an endless chain belt 16 while the spro ket wheels 13 and 15 are engaged by and support the chain belt 1?. Shelves 18 and 19 extending from the side walls of the housing structure 2 form runways or guides for supporting the lower legs of the chains 16 and 17 respectively, to hold them horizontal and against sagging and shelves or runways 29- and 21 supported by the housing structure 2 receive and horizontally align the upper legs or runs of the chains 16 and 17 respectively.

On a supporting frame or bracket 22 secured to the rear end of the housing structure 2 is mounted a driving motor 23 which is connected through suitable reduction gearing 24 with a drive shaft 25 having thereon a sprocket pinion 26 connected by a chain belt 27 with the sprocket wheel 28 on the countershaft 29, this countershaft having a gear pinion 30 thereon meshing with the gear 31 on the chain conveyer shaft 9 whereby the chain belts 16 and 17 are propelled.

The chain structure shown comprises the rectangular inner link frames 32 and the" outer link frame connecting bars 33 hinged to the link frames by pins 34. For the purpose of our invention, as disclosed on the drawings, alternate pins 34 are extended across from the chain 16 to the chain 1'7 and form common link pins or shafts for the chains.

Pivoted on each cross chain pin 34' and be tween the chains is a pair of supporting bars 35 and 35' connected at their 'free ends by a plate 36 engaging the top of the bars, and between the chains 16 and 17 and the bars 35 and 35' spacer collars or sleeves 37 and 37 are provided on the cross pins 34. The bars 3535 are supported by and travel along the inner ends of the shelves 18, 19, 2G and 21 as the chains are driven and the free ends of the bars which are connected by the top'plates 36 are deflected laterally so as to overlap the outer sides of the hinged ends of the adjacent bars as clearly shown in Figure 5. Each cross wall 36 has a flange 38 depending from its inner edge and preferably inclined toward the bar ends as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 9. r

Between each set of side bars 35 and 35' and adjacent thereto are supporting plates 39 and 39 across whose tops and secured thereto is a wall 40, the plates having the openings 41 for receiving the respective chain cross pin 34'. The outer ends of the plates are connected together by a wall 42 which is shown to be at right angles with the top wall 40. The top wall and the end Wall may be formed from a singl'e'piece of sheet metal in order to reduce the weight. The side bars 35, 35 have screw holes 43 and the side plates 39 and 39 have registering holes 44 so that these side plates may be secured to the side I bars or released therefrom by screws 44'.

The top walls 40 connecting the side plates 39 and 39 are in horizontal alignment with the top walls 36 connecting the side bars 35-35 when the chains are traveling along the horizontal supporting shelves 20 and 21 and these walls will then substantially abut end to end to form a continuous bottom or conveyer support for the-coal or, other material to be cleaned. From suitable supporting brackets 45, 45 of the housingstructure 2 vertical side or skirt walls 46, 46 are supported which terminate just above the walls 36 and 40, these side walls forming the sides of the conveyer duct or channel through Which'the fuel or other material to be cleaned is carried by the walls 40 and 36 which walls form the traveling bottom of the conveyer channel.

In the arrangement shown, the travel of the conveyer channel bottom is toward the right (Figure 1) and at the left end of the machine is the inlet hopper 4'? for the coal'or other material from which the material flows through the duct 48 into the conveyer channel. From the other end of the machine a discharge duct 49 leads which receives the cleaned material from the conveyer channel. feed duct 48 is a rotary feeder mounted on a shaft 50 and having feeder blades 51 for feeding the coal from the hopper at a uniform rate. Therotary feeder is driven by its pulley 52 connected by a belt 53 with the belt pulley 54 mounted on the end of the shaft 8. A similar rotary feeder 55 is interposed in the delivery duct 49 and driven by belt 56 from the pulley 57 on the shaft 9.

Coal, as it comes from the mine, usually con tains more or less refuse and foreign matter in the form of slate, stone,'shale, etc., all of which foreign material is usually heavier or of greater specific gravity than that of the coal itself, and,

in accordance with our invention, separation of the coal and the foreign matter is effected by the projection of air jets upwardly against and through the mass as it travels along the conveyer channel, the air jets causing sufficient impact pressure to agitate the mass but to act more the coal on top thereof. Means are also provided at intervals for dumping settled refuse matter from the conveyer channel so that when the delivery duct 49 is reached, there will be only clean coal left in the conveyer channel for delivery to the delivery duct.

Interposed in the LOO .iii

For receiving the dumped refuse matter one or more conveyer housings 58 are suspendedbelow the conveyer channel to extend transversely thereof and in the bottom of each housing is a conveyer screw 59 having the shaft:60. Dependwalls 61 and 62, these spaces being designated by A. To control the volume of" air flow. into the spaces A, each is provided at. its lower end with a suitable damper, which may be in the form of a lower stationary grid plate65i and a movable upper-grid plate 66 which may bereadily shifted to adjust the overlapping of thegrids for the volume of air flow therethrough desired.

In order that the air may flow inthe form of jets through the mass traveling through the conveyer channel, the walls 36 and 40 formingv the bottom of the channel are provided with perforations 67. In each air passage A, above the damper therefor and a short distance below: the conveyer channel, there is interposed an adjustable air gate structure for repeatedly shutting off the air flow and releasing it for flow through the perforations 67, this shutting off of the air allowing it to accumulate pressure before it is released to be projected in the form of jets through the perforations or orifices 67 and against the mass in the conveyer channel. Referring particularly to Figures 3, 6 and 7; each air gate structure comprises a bottom. plate 68 having the rectangular slots or passageways 69 therethrough extending longitudinally, or parallel with the conveyer channel. The plates; may be supported on brackets '70 on the side walls of the main housing 2, and between the slots or passageways 69 bars '71 may be secured against the underside of the plates, these bars being preferably of triangular cross-section and may be of wood secured to the plates by suitable means such as screws; These bars serve to; guide the air and distribute the flow through the passage ways.

Above the plates 68 and running parallel with the air passageways 69 are the bars '72-" secured at their ends on rods '73 and 74' extending through guide bearings 75 and 'lfi secured' to the respective side walls of the housing 2; The bars '72 may be of triangular cross-section as shown and are so arranged that when the rods '73, 74' are shifted in one direction, (Figures 6- and' *1), they will be in register with the passageways 69 through the plates 68 to shut off the air flow, and when the rods are shifted in the opposite direction, the air passageways will be exposed for the flow of air therethrough. For control ling the shifting of the rods we have shown a cam 77 associated with one end of each rod, and a spring 73 associated with theother end of each rod. Each spring abuts at one end against a collar '79 on the rod, andat its other end abuts a yoke bar 80 adjustabl'y supported on tie rods 81 extending from the adjacent sideof the housing 2.

The various came 77 for the air gates in the various air passageways A are mounted on a shaft 82' journalled in suitable brackets 83, a belt pulley 84 on the shaft being connected by belt 85 with a suitable driving motor 86'. With the arrangement shown the direction of the cam rotation is: as indicated. by the arrow in Figure 7" and: the shape of the cam is preferably such that the opening movement of the air gate will be rapid. but the closingmovement will be de-- layed; and afterclosure, the gate will be kept closed for an: interval. This operation permits air pressure to build up in the passageway A below the closed gate, which air will. then be quickly releasedv when the closed gate is opened to beprojected. in the form of pressure jets through the perforations or orifices 67. in the bottom wall ofv the conveyer channel, and the gradual closure of the gate will allow the impacted. coal to gradually come to rest, without violent impactof the coal particles against each other.

Bythe rotation: of the cam 77 at the proper speed, airwill be delivered by pulsations to be distributed in jet form. The coal is of less specific gravity.- than the usual refuse matter such as slate, stone, shale, etc., and the pressure is so adjusted that the impingement of the air jets against the coal particles will cause vertical vibrations thereof and will have more effect on the coal particles than on the refuse particles with theresultthat the: coal particles are gradually Worked towards the top. and the refuse particlestowards the bottom of the channel to forma lower layer of refuse matter and the upperlayer of cleaned coal. The fact that the conveyer channel bottom travels with the coal, and the coal is subjected to the impactv of air jets" whose pressure is gradually released, protects the coal particles against such abrasion, inter-impact and friction, as would result if the mass were to travel; over a stationary conveyer channel bottom and under mechanical impact as by means. of shaker devices, but with our procedure of conveying and agitating the mass, the coal. particles retain their proper size and loss and: wasteis: reduced to a minimum.

Referring now' to the refuse dumping structure, this: is accomplished by the downward swing of certain of the conveyer channel bottom sections: each of which comprises the side plates=39 and 39" and the perforated cross wall 40. As: has been already described, these sectitans-have hinge connection with the respective cross pins 34' by means of the openings 41 in theside plates. To adapt any of the conveyer floor sections for swinging movement, the screws 44' are withdrawn from the holes 44 in the side plates. As. shown in Figures 4 and 10, the shelves 20* and 2r have their inner edges cut away or recessed at the entrance to the refuse to carry the coal over the resulting gap in the conveyer channel bottom.

The; structure for bridging over the dumping gapis best shown in Figures 2, 4, 8 and 10. At each gap is a bridge supporting frame comprisingthe side walls 88 and 88 which are just inside of the skirt walls 46 and 46' respectively.

Near the lower corners of the side plates 83 and 88" at their left end a pivot post 89extends outwardly from each plate into a bearing 90 from which a stud 91 extends to a bracket 92 on' the :7

outside of the corresponding skirt wall, theistud being threaded for reception :of adjusting}; nuts 93 whereby the. bearings-may be shifted horizontally to thereby adjust theside wallshori-l zontally, the skirt walls having the-clearance slots 94 for the bearings. The sidewalls 88 and 88 may thus swing upwardly on the pivot posts 89 and the downward 'swingis limited by means of stop screws 95 on the side boardsengaging with the top of the skirtwalls as clearly shown in Figure 4. m w At a point above the entrance into. the corre-. sponding dumping conveyer housing58 near the left side thereof a tubular shaft 96 extends between the side walls 88 and88 andtothe outsides thereof through vertical slots 97 (Figure 10), the shaft being securedat its outer endsin the hubs 98 at the lower? ends of the hanger rods 99 suspended from the flanges, 100 of the side boards and adjustably'secured by nuts 100 engaging the threaded ends of therods. Vertical adjustment of thetubular shaft canthus. be effected. Extending toward the right from the tubular shaft, that in the direction of travel of the coal through the-conveyor channel, is thebridge frame 191 which, as shown,- is preferablylhollow to communicate with the interior of the tubularshaft. This bridge frame extends between the side walls 88 and 88 and communicates at its outer ends with air chests 192 having-the inlets 103 for the inlet of air under pressure; and the connection for the air supply may; be with the respective air supply passage A above the air. gate therein so as toreceive air impulses therefrom, theupper wallof the hollow .br-idge frame having the outlet orifices-103 so that the impulse airiets may flow upwardly through the coal traveling over the'frame. 1

The bridge frameninolines downwardly-with its end terminating at or a short distance above the bottom of-the conveyer channel, and,- for guiding the coal onto the .bridge-frameand also for intercepting refuse matter, arrow .of :shoe members 104 is provided, theseshoemembers forming a continuous approach wall between the side walls 831and 88 and each being independently rotat'ablelon thetubular shaft 96. Each shoe member comprises a hollow .rectangular body communicating with a hub 105 which receives the hollow shaft, the hub, being cut away to leave stop shoulders lofiand 107 on opposite sides of the bridge framelOl; so as; to limit the swinging movement of the shoes onthe shaft. Theqshaft; has ports 108- for con-z ducting air into the hollow shoes and the-outer walls of the shoes have the perforationsor ori-- flees 109 throughwhichi the air impulses may reach the mass to be cleaned. 1 g Referring to Figures 4 and 8,:the hinge holes 41in the side plates 39 and 39' of the conveyer channel bottom section are elongated in a direction transversely of the plates andtheplates have. the; triangular notches or recesses, 110 in their lower edges so that when the; side plates of a released bottom section reach the entrance to a dumping conveyer ho'using,- the side plates may drop a distance at- .their hinge ends to carry their top walls id-away from the ends of the shoes 104 to form a discharge passageway for the refuse matter into the refuse conveyer housing. 7 I Referring to Figures 4,,8 and 10,- indicates a .conveyer channel section which has been ree s e f d m i .O F s r -z the a re aingjfends of. the notches 110 of-the side plates of this section have just cleared the advance edge 111 of the entrance to the. refuse conveyer housingand the. section swings downwardly to inclined position with the corresponding chain cross pin 34. engaged in. the upper end of the side plate. hinge opening 41. Such downward swing of the bottom section provides an outlet passageway between the top wall of the section and the'points of the shoes 104 and the heavier refuse which has collected in front, of the shoes will tend to flow down along the inclined section-and into the conveyer housing 58. As the conveyer' channel continues to travel, the trailing end of :the; dumped section. will leave the eonveyerhousing edge 111 and'then this section will swing downwardly on-the cross pin 34 against-the opposite edge of the conveyer hous-- ing entrance to the position indicated in Figure l, so that any refuse which had remained on the section will be dumped into the conveyer housing. The conveyer housing has the inclined or beveled-edge .112 along which the dumped section travels as the conveyer channel bottom proceeds and the section will be swung upwardlyback into position to close the dumping gap. [is the released section then successively reaches the other dumping zone the same cycle of operationfollows. Figures 4 and 8 may be considered as representing the first dumpingzone and; it may be thatv the volume of-refusematterisso large that some of the refuse matter will find its way across the bridge frame 101, ,butthe succeeding dumping zones will take care of such refuse matter and after the:last dumpingzone has been passed all the refuse matter will have been removed and only the clean. coal will. be charged into the discharge duct 49.

During travel, of the mass with the conveyer channel bOtllOIllyltwill be subjected to the air impulses orgjets fromvthe air passageways A for'the separation of the coal and refuse matter; and while the mass travels along the approach shoes 1091 and the bridge frame 101, it is .also 'subjected to air jets and air impact and such impact by, the air jets will tend to decrease the weight of the mass of the bridge structure and easeits travel thereover. Should the refuse mass flowing down the inclined dumping section tend to pack between the top wall-thereof-and the end of any .of the shoes 104:, such shoe will yield and swing upwardly and then fallback into place after the pressure. has been removed. Ifthe upward pres-' sureaga-instthe shoes becomes too great, the entire bridge structure and its supporting side walls 88 and 88 will be swung upwardly about the pivot posts 89 so that the packed material may be released. A baffle blade 113 may be provided on the underside of thebridge frame 111 sothat any material which might escape past the shoes 104 will be scraped off to be deposited into the refuse conveyor housing. 1 As shown in Figure 1, the lower shelves 18 and-19 may be interrupted for a distance so that the entire conveyer'channelbottom forming se ctions,:- including the side-bars 3535' and the side plates Bil--39, may swing downwardly-to discharge any material which mighthave become wedgedv therein, the sections being swung back.intoi-nterengaging position before they. again; travel. around the conveyer shaft 8.- The advancing ends of the side bars and side plateshavetheir corners rounded and the ad- Vancing edges of the top walls 40 are correspondingly rounded so that the sections may readily travel through their respective arcs around the shafts :8 and 9.

As the material is subjected to the upwardly directed impact airjets, as it proceeds along the conveyer channel, any dust or finermatter blown therefrom will be drawn out through the exhaust ducts 6 and the main exhaust'duct 7 by the operation of a suitable suction device.

Where there is an unusually large amount of refuse matter in the coal, it may be desirable to recirculate the coal through the conveyer channel for further cleaning. We have therefore provided an elevator structure v114i adapted for connection to receive the dumped material from any one or any number of the conveyers .58 :and to discharge such material .into the feed duct 48 for recirculation. The various dump conveyer housings 5.8 are extended for communication with screw conveyers 115 and 116, the end of the conveyer 116 being connected by a duct 11'? with the lower end of the elevator structure 114. By suitable gate mechanism 118, the discharge from the cross conveyers 58 may be directed either to the screw conveyer 115 or the conveyer 116. If no recirculation is desired,connection will be .made with the conveyer 115 which will conduct the material to a common discharge point, and if recirculation is desired connection will be made only with the conveyer 116 for conduction of the material to the elevator'where it is raised bya suitable hoisting belt or other means 119 to .be discharged back into the feed duct 48.

For driving the various conveyers, a transmission belt 120 extends between the countershaft 29 and the shaft 121, which shaft 121 is connected by beveled gearing 122 with the conveyer screw shaft 123 of the conveyer 116, a belt 124 connecting this shaft with the conveyer shaft of the conveyer 115. The .shaft 60 of the last cross conveyerlstructure is driven by a gearing 125 between this shaft and the shaft 120, the opposite end'of the shaftfiO .of the last conveyer being connected by belt 126 with the corresponding end of the shaft 60 of the pre ceding cross conveyer, the shafts .of the cross conveyers being thus connected serially together for rotation, and from the end .of the shaft 60 of the first cross conveyer, a drive belt l2? connects with the hoisting apparatus of the elevator structure 114.

It may be desirable to observe the operation and functioning of the apparatus at the dumping zones, and for this purpose observation windows 128 may be provided at such zones in the side walls 83 and 88. Adjustment can then readily be madeof the bridge structure settings for the 'most efiicient operation.

Briefly repeating the operation of the structure, the material to be cleaned is fed from the hopper into the conveyer channel and the mass travels with the traveling sectional bottom'of the conveyer channel, and, as the dumping .sections pass the various dumping zones, the collected refuse matter is dumped into the respective conveyers, the mass during its travel being subjected to the impact of the upwardly flowingair jets for separating the coal from the refuse matter. By observing the operation at the dumping zones, through the windows 128, the operator may learn whether'any coal is dumped with the refuse matter, and if the quantity of escape of coal is of sufficient importance then the particular dumping conveyer is connected with the proper main screw conveyer for recirculation of the material. If there is no material escape of coal at the dumping zones, the dumped refuse material is received by the conveyer 115 for conveyance to a dump pile.

So far as we are aware, our improved cleaning apparatus is a distinct improvement over structures of the prior art in that the coal, instead of traveling along a stationary channel, is-carried with the movable bottom of a conveyer channel, this arrangement eliminating violent impact between coal particles and between coal particles and refuse matter which might undesirably breal; up the coal particles. Furthermore, our improved separating procedure eliminates the use of prior art means which caused more or less violent agita an of the mass and violent impact between particles, the air jet operation of our invention acting differentially on the coal particles and the heavier refuse particles without violent interimpact but causing a gentle vertical vibration of the coal particles so that theheavier refuse particles will move downwardly and leave the clean coal on top thereof. The machine is entirely automatic in its operation from start to finish.

It is evident that our improved apparatus may be employed for separating and cleaning other materials besides coal. Changes and modifications may also be made in the structure and operation, and we do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the exact structure, arrangement and operation shown and described except as is specified in the appended claims.

We claim as follows:

1.111 apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom provided with dumping sections, means for agitating the material to be separated during travel thereof and tending to cause the heavier material to settle at the bottom of the conveyer channel, means controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump settled material from said conveyer channel, and meansbridging over the gaps in said conveyer channel bottom during operation of the dumping sections.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for conveying material to be separated thru a succession of dumping zones, said traveling bottom having a plurality of dumping sections, means for agitating the material to be separated during travel thereof and tending to cause the heavier parts thereof to settle to the bottom of said channel, means at each dumping zone controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump settled material from said conveyer channel, and a bridge structure at each dumping zone for conducting the undumped material across the gap formed in the conveyer bottom by the dumping movement of a dumping section thereof.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for carrying material to be separated through a succession of dumping zones, said traveling bottom having a plurality of dumping sections, means for agitating the material during its travel and tending to cause the heavier parts to settle at the bottom of the mass, means at each dumping zone for intercepting settled material and bridging the other material across the dumping zone, and means at each zone controlling thedumping movements of a dumping section to cause discharge of accumulated refuse material into such dumping zone.

i. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an endless sectional conveyer belt and means for causing said belt to travel through a fixed path, onto said belt coal to be cleaned and to be carried thereby through a dumping zone, predetermined sections of said conveyer belt being adapted for dumping movement, means at said dumping zone for controlling the dumping movements of said sections, means operative during travel of the coal with said belt for causing separation of the refuse matter from the coal, means at said dumping zone for cooperating with the dumping sections for separating the refuse matter from the coal for flow of the refuse matter into the dumping zone, and means at said zone for receiving the dumped refuse matter and for conveying it in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of said belt. a

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main conveyer composed of sections adapted to form a continuous support, means for moving said conveyer through a fixed path, means for charging coal onto said conveyer to travel therewith, means operable during travel of the coal with the conveyer for causing separation of refuse matter from the coal, predetermined sections of said conveyer being adapted for dumping movements, a dumpage conveyer extending transversely below said coal "conveyer, means at said cross conveyer for conrolling the dumping operation of the dumping sections, means at said cross conveyer for controlling the flow of refuse matter into said cross conveyer and for bridging the coal over the dumping gap in the coal conveyer, and means for re-conducting the discharge from said cross conveyer back to said coal conveyer.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyer formed of sections n rmally connected to form a continuous supporting bottom for coal to be cleaned, means for causing said conveyer to travel through a fixed path and through a dumping zone, means in advance of the dumping zone operable during travel of the coal with the conveyer for causing separation of the coal and refuse matter, predetermined sections of said conveyer being adapted for dumping movements, means at said dumping zone for releasing said dumping sections for dumping movement and for con-- trolling the dumping movement thereof, a bridge structure at said dumping zone for conducting the undumped material across the dumping gaps in said conveyer, means for adjusting said bridge structure in a direction lengthwise of said conveyer to control the amount of material dumped at said dumping zone, and conveyer mechanism for conveying the dumped material away from the dumping zone.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for conveying material to be separated through a succession of dumping zones, said traveling bottom having a plurality of dumping sections,

imeans for subjecting the material during travel thereof to upward air impulses therethrough tending to cause the heavier parts of the mae terial to settle to the bottom of said channel, means at each dumping zone controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump setmeans f or charging tled material from said conveyer channel, a bridge structure at each dumping zone adjustable to determine the amount of material to be dumped and for conducting the undumped material across the gaps formed in the conveyer bottom by the dumping movement of the dumping sections thereof.

'8'. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyer formed of sections normally-connected to form a continuous supporting bottom for coal to be cleaned, means for causing said conveyer to travel through a fixed path and through a dumping zone, means in advance of the dumping zone operable during travel of the coal with the conveyer for causing separation of the coal and refuse matter, predetermined sections of said conveyer being adapted for dumping movements, means at said dumping zone for releasing said dumping sections for dumping movement and for controlling the dumping movement thereof, a bridge structure at said dumping zone for conducting the undumped material across the dumping gaps in said conveyer, means for adjusting said bridge structure in a direction lengthwise of said conveyer to control the amount of material dumped at said dumping zone, and conveyer mechanism for conveying the dumped material away from the dumping zone, and means for subjecting the material traveling over said bridge structure to upward air impulses therethrough.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for conveyin material to be separated through a dumping zone, said traveling bottom having a plurality of dumping sections, means for subjecting thematerial during travel thereof with said traveling bottom to upward air impulses therethrough tending to cause the heavier parts of the material to settle to the bottom, means at said dumping zone controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump settled material from said traveling bottom, a bridge structure at said dumping zone adjustable ,to determine the amount of material to be dumped and for conducting the undumped material across the gaps formed in the conveyer bottom by the dumping movement of the dumping sections thereof, and means for subjecting the material traveling over said bridge structure to upward air impulses therethrough.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for conveying material to be separated through a dumping zone, means for subjecting material during travel thereof with said bottom to upward air impulses therethrough tending to cause the heavier parts of the material to settle to the bottom, means at said dumping zone controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump settled material from said conveyer bottom, and a bridge structure at said dumping zone adjustable vertically and longitudinally relative to saidbottom to determine the amount of material to be dumped and for conducting the undumped material across the gap formed in the conveyer bottom by the dumping movements of the dumping sections thereof.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a conveyer channel having a traveling bottom for conveying material to be separated through a dumping zone, said traveling bottom having a plurality of dumping sections, means for subjecting the material during travel thereof with said bottom to upward air impulses therethrough tending to cause the heavier parts of the material to settle to the bottom, means at said dumping zone controlling the operation of the dumping sections to dump settled material from said bottom, a bridge structure at said dumping zone adjustable to determine the amount of material to be dumped and for conducting the unduniped material across the gaps formed in theconveyer bottom by the dumping movements of the dumping sections thereof, the approach end of said bridge being formed of a row of individually vertically yieldable sections.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor comprising a pair of endless belts, cross pins connecting said belts at spaced intervals, a pair of side bars pivoted by each pin at one end and resting at their other end on the adjacent pin, guidewaysfor the upper stretches of said belts and said side bars, a pair of side links pivoted on each of said pins inside of the respective side bars and a top wall connecting each set of said side links, there be ing gaps in said guidoways intermediate the ends of said belts over which gaps said side links travel during rotation of the belts, and securing means connecting each set of side links with the corresponding side bars, said securing means being releasable whereby desired sets of side links may be released for downward swing of said links and connecting cross walls at said gaps.

13. in apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor comprising a pair of endless belts and cross pins connecting said belts at spaced intervals, sets of side bars pivoted at one end to each pin and adapted to rest at their other end on the adjacent pin, a horizontal supporting wall connecting the free ends of each set or" side bars, a set of side links pivoted on each of said cross pins inside of the corresponding side bars and connected by a horizontal wall, walls being in alignment with the walls connecting the ends of said side bars whereby to form continuous conveyor bottom, guideways for the top stretches of said belts and said side bars and side links, there being gaps in said guideways between the ends of the belts over which gaps said side links travel during rotation of the belts, and securing means for securing the sets of side links to the respective side bars, said securing means being releasable whereby desired side links may be released for dumping movement at said gaps.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor formed of sections normally connected to form a continuous supporting bottom for coal to be cleaned, means for causing said conveyor to travel through a fixed path and through a dumping zone, means in advance of the dumping zone operable during travel of the coal with the conveyor for causing separation of coal and refuse matter, and means adapting predetermined sections of said conveyor for a downward dip or" their advancing ends when reaching the dumping zone and then for downward swing or" their trailing ends when passing through the dumping zone.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor formed of sections normally connected to form a continuous supporting bottom for coal to be cleaned, means for causing said conveyor to travel through a fixed path and through a dumping zone, bridge means at said dumping zone operable during travel of the coal with the conveyor for causing separation of coal and refuse matter and for conducting the cleaned coal across the dumping zone, and means adapting predetermined sections for downward dip of their advancing ends into the dumping zone when said bridge means is reached for dumping into the zone of refuse matter collected at said bridge means and for then swinging their trailing ends downwardly into the zone as said zone is passed for dumping into the zone refuse matter collected on said sections.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor formed of sections normally connected to form a continuous supporting bottom for coal to be cleaned, means for causing said conveyor to travel through a fixed path and through a dumping zone, separating means at the dumping zone for separating cleaned coal from refuse matter and conducting the coal across the dumping zone, means adapting predetermined conveyor sections for downward din of their advancing ends when reaching said separating means whereby to form a gap at said separating means for dumping into said dumping zone of refuse matter collected at said separating means, and means adapting such predetermined sections ior downward swing into the dumping zone or" their trailing ends when said trailing ends have passed said separating means whereby to dump into said zone any refuse matter remaining on such sections.

HENRY F. HEBLEY. KLAAS PRINS. 

